CM Punk was in his home state of Illinois Sunday night, but it wasn't for WWE Payback. The former WWE Superstar was shown at the Western Conference Finals Game 7 matchup between his beloved Chicago Blackhawks and the Los Angeles Kings at the United Center in Chicago while WWE's Payback was being aired in nearby Rosemont at the Allstate Arena.
Punk and his fiancée A.J. Lee -- who has taken time off from the WWE while she moves in with Punk following the engagement -- were shown on camera sitting in the front row at the United Center during the game, which the hometown Blackhawks ended up dropping 5-4 to the Kings in overtime.
Punk had quit the WWE in January and hasn't been seen in the company since walking out on it, but he recently broke his Twitter silence when the best-of-seven Western Conference Finals series started, poking fun at the Kings mascot Bailey and making a friendly wager with him.
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Stephanie McMahon metioned Punk quitting in an in-ring promo with WWE World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan and Brie Bella, a segment which ended with Bella quitting.
"The fans want you to quit just like CM Punk did," McMahon told Bryan.
Punk then took to Twitter to congratulate Bailey and the Kings on moving onto their second Stanley Cup Finals in three years. Los Angeles won its first Cup in franchise history back in 2012.
"Congrats to the western conference @LAKings Amazing hockey team. Amazing series. #lakvschi #BecauseItsTheCup," Punk tweeted.
The Kings also had some fun with Punk on Twitter.
“@BaileyLAKings: . @CMPunk pic.twitter.com/If96JDNsvC”. Aww. My head is so shrunken.
— Coach (@CMPunk) June 2, 2014
Alec Martinez notched the deciding goal for the Kings 5:47 into overtime Sunday night, crushing the hearts of Punk and the Blackhawks faithful and ending their season.
Congrats to the western conference @LAKings Amazing hockey team. Amazing series. #lakvschi #BecauseItsTheCup — Coach (@CMPunk) June 2, 2014
Despite rumors that Punk may appear at Payback, the "Best in the World" obviously had no intentions of showing up to the event just a week after he did an interview about being a retired wrestler at 35.
Punk had participated in the Blackhawk's Shoot the Puck Challenge earlier this postseason.
Punk and the Chicago faithful wake up Monday with the knowledge that their team will not hoist the Stanley Cup this spring, but they've witnessed the Blackhawks lift the greatest trophy is sports twice in the last four years.
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